Man accused of Starmer arson attacks did not know he was PM, court hears

Man accused of Starmer arson attacks did not know he was PM, court hears7 minutes agoShareSaveAdd as preferred on GoogleDaniel De SimoneInvestigations correspondentThe Metropolitan PoliceUkrainian national Roman Lavrynovych, 22, is one of three men accused of targeting the prime minister's properties and carA Ukrainian man who is accused of setting fire to the prime minister's house told police he had never heard of Sir Keir Starmer, the Old Bailey has heard.Ukrainian nationals Roman Lavrynovych, 22, and Petro Pochynok, 35, and Ukrainian-born Romanian national Stanislav Carpiuc, 27, are accused of targeting two properties and a car linked to Sir Keir. They deny the charges.Lavrynovych allegedly carried out the arson attacks after being recruited online by Russian-speaking Telegram user "El Money" who promised him payment.During a police interview, Lavrynovych was asked several times if he knew who Sir Keir was and whether he held a grudge against him, to which he repeatedly answered no.All three men, who live in London, are charged with conspiring together - and "with others" - to damage property by fire between 1 April and 13 May 2025.Lavrynovych, of Lewisham, south-east London, is also charged with damaging property by fire with intent to endanger life on 11 and 12 May 2025 at two properties in north London connected to Sir Keir.He faces alternate counts of damaging property by fire being reckless as to whether life is endangered.A transcript of a police interview - from 13 May 2025 - with Lavrynovych was read to jurors on Wednesday.During the interview, a detective asked: "I just want to ask you about our prime minister. Do you know who that is?""No", Lavrynovych replied.The detective responded: "You don't know who the UK prime minister is? Alright, have you heard of Keir Starmer?""No", said Lavrynovych.He then answered "yes" when asked if he had heard of former Prime Minister Bo...